Slitting expanded metal



Dec.'23, 1941. 'r. s. OKON SKI SLITTING EXPANDED METAL INVENTOR Theodora S. 0]: onki 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1941 Dec. 23, 1941. T, a Ns l 2,267,534

SLIT TING EXPANDED METAL Filed June 3, 1941 S'Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Theodore S. Okonskj Dec. 23, 1941. T. s. OKONSKI I SLITTING EXPANDED METAL Filed Juh 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Theodore Si Okonski Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES SLITTING EXPANDED METAL Theodore S. Okonski, Wheeling, Ya assignor to The Consolidated Expanded Metal Com.- panics. Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application June 3, 1941, Serial No. 396,410

18 Claims.

This invention relates to slitting expanded metal. It relates further to the relative guiding of expanded metal and slitting means operating thereon :so as to insure proper slitting. The invention still further relates to slitting expanded metal by a plurality of generally parallel slits and making provision for proper slitting despite irregularities in the expanded metal between the slits.

For purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described as embodied in a method of and apparatus "for slitting expanded metal lath. Theslitting of expanded metal presents problems which are somewhat'peculiar and which problems have been solved in a novel and highly satisfactory way by my method and apparatus. While the invention may 'be'employed in the slitting of either guillotine type expanded metal or expanded metal which is formed by "separate slitting and expanding operations the invention has particular utility in the slitting of expanded metal lath which is formed from metal blanks which are first provided with aligned discontinuous slits by rotary cutters and then stretched out transversely of such slits to form the lath.

Expanded metal lathand its manufacture are well known. Expanded metal lath is made in sheets which are ordinarily in the neighborhood of 27 in width andfromtto Qfeet long. Each sheet "of lath in a common and preferred form consists of one integral piece ofmetal made up of strands nonnectedby bonds, the sheet having therein generally diamond :shaped openings definedbythe strands andbonds. Thestrands and bonds extend generally lengthwise of the diamonds and such direction is herein considered as the direction of the length of the sheet. The direction .transversely of the diamonds, or generallyh parallel to the minor axes of the diamonds, fisherein considered as the direction of the width or the sheet."

In "the lformation -.of expanded metal lath the strands and'bondsbecome tilted relatively to the plane of thesheet oilath,1this resulting in the llath having .faces which in the longitudinal di- .rection .are somewhat grooved. The longitudinal groovesare defined and-bounded by the angularly positioned strands vand bonds. When the lath is ,formed bystretching out the previously slitted metal blank the longitudinal rows of diamonds or .of communicating strands and bonds which Tform the diamonds are not always perfectly .straight and parallel. Due ;to various-factors involvedin the manufacture of expanded metallalth the longitudinal rows of diamonds are generally and almost always wavy orlcurved to'some Xrtent. Moreover, such rows are not uniformly spaced throughout the sheet. a At one point in a sheet of expanded metal lath-the transverse distance between transversely aligned bonds in two selected rows may be substantially diiferentthan the transverse distance between transversely aligned bonds in the same :two rows at another point in the sheet. e

It is desirable to longitudinally slit sheets of expanded metal lath to form relatively narrow parallel; Ithas heretofore been proposed to advance :a sheet of expanded metal lath-through a gang of slitters arranged in a line parallel to the transverse dimension of the sheetand to guide the lath during slitting by a side guide. It has alsobeen attempted to guide sheets of expanded metal lathby rotary guides in effect integral with rotary slitters arranged in a line parallel to the transverse dimension of the sheet. These attempts have not been successful because the slitters 'and guiding means are fixed in a direction transversely of the sheet while the rows .of

diamonds are not "uniformly positioned in the transverse direction throughout the sheet but are more widely separated at one pointlongi- 'tudinally of the sheet than at another point.

Thus when a sheet of expanded metal lath is advanced against aside guide and simultaneously slitted by a slitter in transverse alignment with the side guide and which is fixed relativelyto the side guide or when it is attempted toguide the sheet by guides formed integrally with rotary slitters which are fixedly positioned in alignment in a direction transversely of the sheet a slitter may not vfollow the same longitudinal line of bonds throughout the sheet. When the trans? verse distance between the guided edge of the sheet and a row of bonds being slitted varies from the transverse distance between the side guide and a slitter-fixed-in transverse alignment with the side guide or when the transverse distance between rows of bonds being slitted varies from the transverse distance between transversely aligned and fixed slitters there is a tendency either to stretch or to bend up or buckle the expanded metal and this tendency results in irregular slitting and movement of the slitter or slitters from one to another row of bonds during the slitting. The result is production of strips which are not the same number of diamonds wide throughout their lengths and with ragged and dangerous edges.

I have devised a method and apparatus for slitting expanded metal, which method and apparatus are particularly adaptable for the slitting of expanded metal lath, obviating all of the disadvantages above mentioned and insuring satisfactory and rapid slitting regardless of irregularities in the material. I have found that I can use rotary slitters of known type but that the material should not be guided by a side guide while it is being slitted by a slitter in transverse alignment with the side guide. Also, the material should not be slitted by a plurality of slitters in transverse alignment operating simultaneously upon the same transversely continuous piece of material. I provide for guiding the material during slitting by the sl tters alone and avoiding contact with the material of any separate guide means in transverse al gnment with a slitter while such slitter is operating on the material.

In slitt ng a sheet by a plurality of generally parallel slits I arrange the slitters in offset relationship both transversely and longitudinally of the direction of slitting. I arrange the slitters so that at no time is a transversely continuous piece of material being slitted simultaneously by more than one slitter.

In the slitting of expanded metal lath I prefer to provide'a table or support for relatively supporting the slitters and lath and to relatively advance the slitters and lath to accomplish the slitting. It will be understood that the lath may 'be held stationary and the slitters advanced relatively thereto or the slitters may be stationarily positioned and the lath advanced relatively thereto or the slitters and lath may be moved simultaneously to accomplish the relative advance and slitting. In the present preferred embodiment of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings the slitters are mounted in fixed position upon a fixed base and the material is advanced relatively thereto. I prefer to guide the material during its approach to the slitters but not by any guide means in transverse alignment with a slitter operative during operation of such slitter. I preferably employ one or two side guides guiding the material as it approaches a slitter and render such guide or guides inoperative at about the time and preferably somewhat before the slitter begins to slit the material. Thus the material while it"is being slitted is free to move transversely, the slitters themselves forming the sole guiding means acting on the sheet throughoutits transverse extent at the point of slitting.

When a sheet is to be slitted by a plurality of generally parallel slits I advance the sheet first to one slitter and subsequently to one or more additional slitters. The first slitter slits the sheet into two strips. Subsequently one or both of such strips may be slitted into narrower strips and such narrower strips may still later be further slitted if desired. By avoiding acting upon any transversely continuous piece of material by more than one transversely aligned slitter and guiding the material by the slitters alone I accomplish a rapid, smooth and efficient slitting free from the difficulties heretofore encountered.

The rotary slitters which I preferably employ engage the expanded metal in known manner to slit it through longitudinal rows of bonds as the expanded metal moves relatively to the slitters. Examples of slitters of this type are to be found in United States Patents Nos. 1,768,978 and 2,223,497. Consequently I shall avoid going into unnecessary detail as to the manner in which the slitters slit the longitudinally aligned rows of bonds of the expanded metal.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof and a present preferred method of practicing the same proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of slitting apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus as viewed from the left in Figures 1 and 2, parts being omitted for clarity; and

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus as viewed from the right in Figures 1 and 2, parts being omitted for clarity.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a base 2 mounted upon a floor 3 and carrying a superstructure 4. The superstructure 4 carries a front slitter 5 and rear slitters 6. These slitters are of known type as disclosed in the above mentioned patents, each comprising a pair of cooperating driven rotary slitting blades. The slitters are especially adaptable for slitting expanded metal since the cooperating rotary blades enter the longitudinal grooves in the sheet of expanded metal and position themselves relatively thereto to effect the slitting. The slitters are driven by a motor having a shaft 1 driving a belt or sprocketchain 8 which through suitable connections such as shown in the drawings drives the slitters in such direction as to advance the sheet from right to left viewing Figures 1 and 2.

There are provided an entering table 9 and an exit table [0 and the superstructure 4 carries an intermediate table or support ll upon which the material being slitted is adapted to rest as it moves through the slitter. The support ll may be in the form of separate spaced strips l2 as shown or may be transversely continuous. The use of spaced strips is desirable since this reduces the friction on the material as it advances through the slitter. The support II is interrupted at each of the slitters 5 and 6 to permit the coacting rotary slitter blades to assume their proper cooperative position in the path of the advancing sheet and thereby slit the sheet as it moves through the slitter.

I provide side guides I3 in advance of the front slitter 5 and side guides [4 in advance of the rear slitters 8. The cooperating guides l3 are when in operative position spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the sheet so that they insure against improper presentation of the sheet to the front slitter 5. A sheet is preferably advanced toward the left, viewing Figures 1 and 2, on the table 9 and thence to the support II. In Figures 3 and 4 expanded metal lath is shown diagrammatically at L.

madman.

.Since .thisiis a well known lmaterial no I detailed showing ;of sit ris made. 1 Such material is :zshown .in detail in the patents above mentioned. The forward :edge of the -.sheet :enters between the guides I-3 which have 'flarednosemortions .l5 to insure against thefront edge of the sheet catching uponthe guides as it'tmoves'towardther-slit- 'ters. The; sheets :may be i'advanced to the .front slitter .5 manually .or; mechanically. I find; it .satlisfactory to advance the;sheets manually over the table -9-and over the forward portion ofthe support @H and between the guides 13. =.At such time the guides l3 :are winioperative position :as shown in Figure 4. The sheet is .moved toward the .front :slitter .5, the guides I-3 :insuring, as zabove indicated, that it will .not nice subject2to lateral misalignment. Asthe :frontredge tof the sheet-enters the slitter/5 the rotaryaslitting blades .which are rotating at high speed in such'a .dimotion as to advance the sheet toward the left, viewing Figures 1. and 2, automatically'findproper cooperative relationship with respect to a .row .of bonds of theexpandedmetalso as to slitsuch bonds as the sheet advances. :In case the row of bonds to be, slit bythe frontslitter-5 is.slightly to one .side'or'the other of the cooperating rotary slitter blades as the front edge of thesheet reaches the slitter 5 such 'front edge willimove slightly toward .one side .or the other to automatically effect proper alignment. "Such move- .ment is accomplishedbecauseif the slitteris' not inexact alignment with a row of bonds as the .frontcdge of thesheet comesinto contact with the slitter it will contactan inclinedstrand which will cause the .fIOIl-t edge '.0f the sheet 'to :ride :slightly toward oneside or the other :until the slitter blades properly cooperate with the first bond inthearow ofbonds to be s-litted.

Thus the slitter 5 itself;determines the transverse position-of the frontedge .of the :sheet as .the sheet :moves @into engagement therewith. .Moreover, the :high speed rotary "action of the slitter is sufficient .to itself advance the sheet while'simultaneous-ly guiding and slittingit. In orderto free thesheet to beguidedbythe slitter {5 and to allow its front 'edge to move slightly toward oneside or the other as the-slitter :moves :into engagement with-the first bond of the lon- .gitudinal row of bonds-to beslitted II render 'inoperative the guides time the front edge of the sheet engages the slitter 5. I find in practice that it is desirable to .render the guides 13 inoperatve ;just before the front edge of the sheet-engagesthe slitter :5

so that at the instant of engagement the front edge'of the sheet is free to v.move slightly laterally unimpeded by any guiding means acting thereon except the:slitter itself. Themeans for rendering the guides 13 inoperative will now be described.

Each guide I3 is carriedby a pair of arms -16 pivoted to the superstructure 4 at H. A bracket 18 is fastened to the l superstructure and carries a pivot 19 for a doublelarmed lever 20. A link 2l is pivoted to each arm 46 at 1212 and 'to an arm of the lever -20 at 23; -A.-solenoid 24 is mounted on the superstructure "and has its plunger 25 connected with the upper end of the lever in through ai-link 26 pivotedto' the solenoid-plunger at:2-'l and to thelever-Zflat 28.

The superstructure :4 includes -a bracket 29 carrying a switch "30. Pivoted to thesuperstructure at 3| is anoperatingJarmor detent 32which extends downwardly and has a foot .33.normally resting on theasupport H; Therswitch-Sflis con- I3 at approximately the .-.nected;in the circuit of the so1enoidw24. .The solenoid, :as usual, has a spring (not :shown) .urging the 1 plunger :25 outwardly toward 'the right viewing Figure 4. When the switch 301is closed by raising of'the'detent 32 the solenoid: is energized to draw the plunger 25toward theleft, vieWing'Figure 4, against the action of'its spring, which, through the lever 20, the .links .2! and the arms l6, swingsthe guides 13 outwardly to inoperative positionrelatively to the sheet. .As

the forward edge vof the sheet .moves from right to left viewing :Figure 1 over the support II it raises the detent .32 due to the :fact that the sheet has substantial thickness and passes :.be'- tween the foot 33 and the :support I;I.

This raising :of thedetent-32 operates the switchlD-to energize the solenoid and renderthe (guides .l3 inoperative. Thus the guides l3 simply insure :against lateral misalignment between the sheet and the slitter 5 as the sheet is presented to-the slitter andimmediately upon or slightly before the actual engagement between the slitterand the sheet the guides are swung cut away from the edges of the sheet and .are inoperative .so

long as'the "sheet ispassing under the detent 32. When the trailing edge of the sheet passes out from under the detent 32 this permits the detent -.t0-.drop back to rest upon the support .I I and the switch .30 .opens, thusallowing the spring in the solenoid :24 to-move the plungertoward the right, vewing Figure 4, to return theguides 1.3

:to operative position in readiness for guidingtthe succeeding sheet.

The-guides 4'4 in advance of the slitters 16 are mounted and operated by mechanism substantially identical with that by which the guides l3 are mounted and operated and the guides 'l' l functionprecisely .analogously to the guides l3. Thus the detailed description of the mechanism for mounting and operatingthe guides will not be repeated. As theforward edges of the separated portions of the sheet which has been :slitted by the slitter 5 approach the slitters Gsuch ,portions of the sheet are held against moving alignment as the forward edge of the material is presentedto the slitters and aremoved transversely outof contact with and away from the side edgesof the material justat, or somewhat prior to, commencement of the slitting operation bythe slitteror slitters immediately follow ingthe guides. Irfindthatthe sheets of expanded metal lath which I sliton the apparatus shown 'movethrough the apparatus rapidly and without undue stress or strain either on the material .or on the slitters and without any tendency of the material tobuckle orbecomedeformed or ofthe slitters'to jump from one rowof bonds to another :during the slitting.

.Asshown in .Figure 3, the slitter 5 ispositioned to slit theaoriginal sheet'substantially centrally and :each'of the slitters '6 is positioned to slita :portion ofthe sheet at oneside of the slitter 5 substantially centrally. Ifhus the sheet in a :single pass through my apparatusiis slitted lin'to from interference by any other slitter or other mechanism in transverse alignment therewith.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention and a present preferred method of practicing the same it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal along a row of bonds which is approximately straight but which may be somewhat wavy comprising relatively moving toward each other the sheet and a slitter adapted to cooperate with the bonds of said row to slit them while guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet until insuring commencement of the slit at a desired place in the sheet and not later than during the early portion of the slitting discontinuing guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet whereby to permit making the slit along a wavy row of bonds.

2. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal having a slitter guiding portion intermediate its edges comprising relatively moving the sheet and a slitter toward each other while guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet until insuring commencement of the slit at a desired place in the sheet and not later than during the early portion of the slitting discontinuing guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet and guiding the slitter relatively to the sheet by said portion of the sheet.

3. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal longitudinally of the strands thereof comprising relatively moving the sheet and a slitter toward each other while guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet until insuring commencement of the slit at a desired place in the sheet and not later than during the early portion of the slitting discontinuing guiding the slitter relatively to an edge of the sheet and guiding the slitter relatively to the sheet by the expanded metal itself.

4. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal longitudinally of the strands thereof comprising relatively moving the sheet and a slitter toward each other while guiding the slitter relatively to the sheet by means including a side guide engaging an edge of the sheet until insuring commencement of the slit at a desired place in the sheet and not later than during the early portion of the slitting moving the side guide out of engagement with the sheet and guiding the slitter relatively to the sheet by the expanded metal itself.

5. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal by a plurality of generally parallel slits comprising relatively moving the sheet and a slitter having a plurality of slitting heads in such manner than a portion of the sheet extending transversely of the slits is first slitted by one head and thereafter slitted by another head.

6. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal by a plurality of generally parallel slits extending longitudinally of the strands thereof comprising in a continuous slitting action first slitting a portion of the sheet extending transversely of the strands to form two severed parts and thereafter slitting at least one of said parts.

7. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal by a plurality of generally parallel slits extending longitudinally of the strand thereof comprising in a continuous slitting action first slitting by a slitter a portion of the sheet extending transversely of the strands to form two severed parts and thereafter slitting by another slitter at least one of said parts and guiding at least one of the slitters relatively to the sheet by the expanded metal itself.

8. A method of slitting a sheet of expanded metal by a plurality of generally parallel slits extending longitudinally of the strands thereof comprising in a continuous slitting action first slitting by a slitter a portion of the sheet extending transversely of the strands to form two severed parts, thereafter slitting by another slitter-at least one of said parts, guiding at least one of the slitters relatively to the sheet prior to action of said slitter on the sheet by guiding means separate from said slitter and guiding at least one of the slitters relatively to the sheet during action of said slitter on the sheet by the expanded metal itself.

9. Slitting apparatus comprising a slitter, means for guiding the slitter relatively to a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like as the slitter and material approach each other and means operable not later than during the early portion of the slitting of the sheet by the slitter rendering inoperative said guiding means.

10. Slitting apparatus comprising a slitter and means for relatively supporting the slitter and a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like to be slit thereby, the slitter comprising common means for simultaneously relatively advancing the slitter and material and slitting the material, said means also constituting the sole means for relatively guiding the slitter and a transverse portion of the material being slitted.

11. Slitting apparatus comprising a plurality of slitters successively operable upon material such asexpanded metal or the like to slit the same and means for relatively guiding the slitters and material engaging the material only at a portion thereof which at the time of such engagement is approaching a slitter.

12. Slitting apparatus comprising a pair of slitters, means for relatively supporting the slitters and a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like adapted to be advanced relatively to the slitters generally rectilinearly to be slit thereby, the slitters being arranged in substantially parallel slitting relation but being offset from each other both transversely and longitudinally of the direction of advance of the sheet so that no two slitters are either transversely or longitudinally aligned.

l3. Slitting apparatus comprising a table along which a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like is adapted to be advanced generally rectilinearly, a slitter mounted in fixed position relatively to the table in the path of advance of the material to slit the same and another slitter mounted in fixed position relatively to the table in the path of advance of the material but offset from the first mentioned slitter both along said path and transversely of said table to slit one of the portions of the material formed by the first mentioned slitter.

14. Slitting apparatus comprising a pair of slitters, means for relatively supporting the slitters and a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like adapted to be advanced relatively to the slitters generally rectilinearly to be slit thereby, the slitters being, offset from each other both transversely and longitudinally of the direction of advance of the sheet, the slitters themselves constituting the sole means for guiding the sheet while both slitters are operating thereon.

15. Slitting apparatus comprising a slitter, means for guiding the slitter relatively to a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like as the slitter and material approach each other and means operable by the sheet for rendering inoperative said guiding means.

16. Slitting apparatus comprising a table, a slitter adapted to slit a sheet of material such as expanded metal or the like moving along the table, a side guide adapted to engage an edge of the sheet to guidethe sheet along the table and means operable by the sheet at a predetermined point in its travel rendering said side guide inoperative.

1'7. slitting apparatus comprising a table, a slitter adapted to slit material such as expanded metal or the like movingalong the table, a guide adapted to engage the material While it moves along the table to guide the material and means operable at a predetermined point in the movement of the material along the table to Withdraw the guide from engagement with the material.

13. slitting apparatus for slitting expanded metal longitudinally of the strands thereof comprising a pair of slitters and means for relatively supporting the slitters and expanded metal for relative movement therebetween generally rectilinearly but along somewhat curved rows of strands of the expanded metal, the slitters being ofiset from each otherboth in a direction transverse of the rows of strands of the expanded metal and in a direction longitudinally of such rows of strands, the slitters themselves constituting the sole guiding means for relatively guiding the slitters and the expanded metal while both slitters are slitting the expanded metal.

THEODORE s. OKONSKI.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,267,55Ln December 25, 19LL1.

THEODORE s. OKONSKI.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page LL, first column, line 70, claim 5, for "than" read that-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and seal ed this 5rd day of March, A. D. 1911.2.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents 

